Arts Feature

Five Seven Five

The winners of our 19th annual Haiku Contest

After announcingour yearly haiku contest,mail and comments rained.It seems many thinkthat one must know Japaneseto write a haiku.It's true: Our lettersystems are vastly different,our alphabets too.Japanese: symbolsthat represent thoughts. English:words' meaning ingrained.In the West we saysyllables are what to count.In Japan it's on.Other rules applyin Japanese haiku, too.But here's the great thing:Writers of Englishhave developed their own styleand sense of timing.This is our 19thannual haiku contest,and talent's been honed.High school classes toveteran poets all senttheir offerings in.Whether a novice,or you're a professional,a good choice: haiku.Hundreds of poems,turned in yearly, is a signwe've made something new.Thanks to all who played"Alibi Haiku" contest.Those listed here win.

Local

Dew point is 40!I’ve never been so sweaty!I hate you AC!(Jason Roach)Why do fireworkssurround me to celebratethe state up in flames?(Jessica Mills)Where does a man go?Swept way down an arroyoin New Mexico.(RK Grubbs)

Traditional

The flower ripples—pond waves burst into blossom,and the frog stays still.(Chris Martinez)Early snow like smokedrifts up the hill while aspenignite the valley.(Kelly Yenser)A buck the colorof the slash it stands in stillstartles a hunter.(Kelly Yenser)

Miscellaneous

The day approacheswhere you will have to decide:pirate, or ninja?(Peter Cornelius)sold your baseball cardsleft your telescope outsidedamn your memory(Rachel Satz)Hitler was the manWho took the Chaplin mustacheAnd made it evil.(Lynn Ambrosino)